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Where are America’s top Christmas trees grown? Western North Carolina. Fraser firs from the area have been selected for the White House’s official Blue Room display 13 times since 1971. Since records have been kept, no other state has provided as many trees for this purpose. The 2018 tree is a Fraser from the Tar Heel State. North Carolina Travel & Tourism

In North Carolina, the Fraser is also the display tree at Biltmore Estate, one of the state’s top attractions. A holiday promotion is built around the arrival and display of the tree. This photo shows the arrival of the 2017 Fraser. Biltmore Estate

The Fraser, set up and decorated in the mansion’s Banquet Hall, is a centerpiece of Biltmore holiday events. This photo is of the 2017 tree. The 2018 Fraser – 35 feet tall – is on display through Jan. 8 at Biltmore. Biltmore Estate

The Fraser fir, Owen says, has been in the western North Carolina mountains since the last Ice Age. They thrive on mountainsides at high southeastern altitudes. They are now primarily grown for holiday display – and North Carolina is one of the top producers of such trees. The overwhelming majority of holiday trees raised in-state are Frasers. North Carolina Travel & Tourism

The main Fraser-growing areas are in counties in far northwest North Carolina, on the Tennessee or Virginia borders. The farm shown here is in Ashe County. Another prime area for Fraser growing is south of Asheville. North Carolina Travel & Tourism

The Fraser fir, related to the southern balsam, is visually stunning throughout the year in western North Carolina. Weather permitting, Fraser experts recommend driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and back roads in the area to get an IMAX-style look at massive Frasier farms on the sides of valleys. North Carolina Travel & Tourism

Are you more of an urban traveler? Besides the Biltmore Estate, cosmopolitan Asheville – a top-ranked foodie-destination – also is home to the North Carolina Arboretum, which displays live Frasers. Nov. 16 through Dec. 31, the state-owned facility offers a “Winter Lights” after-dark illumination of its conifers. North Carolina Travel & Tourism

Why is the Fraser fir so popular? Jeff Owen, of NC State’s College of Natural Resources, is the extension specialist whose responsibility is Christmas trees. “Needles are soft and dark green,” he says of the Fraser. “Branches are supple yet firm enough to support plenty or ornaments.” NC State University News Service

If Charlie Brown is looking for a top-of-the-line Christmas tree, he may want to head to western North Carolina. It is, after all, where the Fraser fir that is currently on display in the White House was cut.

It is the 13th time since 1971 that a Fraser from the Tar Heel State was selected for official presidential display in the Blue Room: In the 57 years formal records have been kept, no other state has provided as many for this purpose. And it has little to do with politics.

Annual selection is by the National Christmas Tree Association, a growers’ group that knows the fine points of this botanical beauty contest. And Frasers are a regional specialty. According to Jennifer Greene, executive director of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association, “99.4 percent of all Christmas tree species grown in this state are Frasers, and are from family-owned operations.”

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It’s getting colder and darker out there, which can mean only one thing: time to brighten our spirits with a Christmas tree! Susana Victoria Perez has more.
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Nationally, North Carolina ranks second in Christmas tree production (Oregon is first).
The Fraser is celebrated in many towns and cities across the state during the holiday run-up. Biltmore, the Vanderbilt estate attraction in Asheville, uses a Fraser as the centerpiece for its Christmas festivities; the 35-foot fir is on display in the Banquet Room through Jan. 6.

What’s the tree’s appeal? “They have exceptional needle retention,” says Jeff Owen of NC State University’s College of Natural Resources. He’s the extension specialist whose responsibility is Christmas trees. “Needles are soft and dark green. Branches are supple, yet firm enough to support plenty of ornaments. With good horticultural practices, Frasers form a beautiful, cone-shaped tree with dense foliage. Frasers are really the ideal tree most people picture when they think of a Christmas tree.”

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The official White House Christmas tree is seen in the Blue Room during the Christmas press preview at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. The tree measures 18 feet tall and is dressed in over 500 feet of blue velvet ribbon embroidered in gold with each State and territory. Carolyn Kaster, AP

The First Family's official Christmas ornament is seen during the press preview at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Christmas has arrived at the White House for 2018 as first lady Melania Trump unveiled the holiday decor. She designed the decor, which features a theme of "American Treasures." Carolyn Kaster, AP

The gingerbread house, showcasing the full expanse of the National Mall: the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and, the White House is seen in the State Dining Room during the 2018 Christmas Press Preview at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Carolyn Kaster, AP

Place settings for a previous President Donald Trump State dinner is seen in the China Room during a 2018 Christmas preview at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. A name card for President Donald Trump is left and another for French President Emmanuel Macron's wife Brigitte Macron is right. Carolyn Kaster, AP

Grand Foyer and Cross Hall leading into the Blue Room and the official White House Christmas tree are seen during the 2018 Christmas Press Preview at the White House in Washington, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. Carolyn Kaster, AP

Carrying first lady Melania Trump's "Be Best" initiative, the Red Room is decorated to "celebrate children through the décor, which displays ways in which children can excel in their own path" at the White House, Nov. 26, 2018, in Washington. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

A window silhouette of President Thomas Jefferson playing the violin for his family in 1805 hangs in a window of the Vermeil Room which is decorated for the holidays at the White House, Nov. 26, 2018, in Washington. Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

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All that’s right, agrees Tim O’Connor, “but it is ultimately the consumers who make up their minds about what they want in their homes.” O’Connor, who lives in Denver, is executive director of the National Christmas Tree Association that meets every other year to decide which trees head to the White House. The Fraser from Newland, North Carolina, was selected at the 2017 confab, held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He says the Fraser and the noble fir – native to the Pacific Northwest – have the characteristics the public seeks.

Botanically, there’s nothing new about Frasers doing well in the Carolina mountains. “Frasers are native to several peaks in the Appalachians and Smoky Mountains,” Owen says. “Essentially, they’re the survivor population from the last Ice Age.

“Most of the native populations are above 5,000-feet elevations. The first trees harvested were on mountain tops and were 30 to 40 feet. The top 6 or 7 feet were cut and sent to places like Atlanta. Their appeal as Christmas trees created a transition from forestry to farming and horticulture.”

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A forest of nearly 100 Christmas trees transforms the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre every holiday season. The trees, each decorated by a different organization or company, attract crowds to the 1910 neoclassical building throughout the holiday season. christmasatthecapitol.sd.gov

In New York City, Rockefeller Center's famous Christmas tree attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. This year’s tree, a 72-foot, 12-ton Norway spruce, grew about 75 miles away in Wallkill, New York. It’s draped with about 50,000 LED lights, and topped with a 900-pound star made from 3 million Swarovski crystals. Will Steacy, nycgo.com

In recent years, botanical gardens and zoos have launched flashy holiday exhibitions, but few equal the show in Toledo, Ohio, where the zoo grounds are festooned with more than 1 million lights, including 35,000 alone on an 85-foot spruce. Toledo Zoo & Aquarium

Citadel Outlets in Commerce, California, is home to what has been called the world’s largest live-cut Christmas tree. The white fir tree from northern California’s Shasta-Trinity National Forest is 110 feet tall. Citadel Outlets

The National Christmas Tree Association's grand champion grower provides the White House Christmas tree every year. This year's honor goes to a 19.5-foot Fraser fir from Newland, North Carolina. National Christmas Tree Association

The Mayor's Christmas Tree in Kansas City, Missouri, lords over the city’s Crown Center, an entertainment center that’s home to an ice-skating rink, a gingerbread village and holiday train. Mark McCabe

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Huge pine forests once dominated the state landscape and powered its furniture industry. There are still large and small nurseries in every county of the state. But the Fraser does better on cool slopes steep enough to avoid drainage problems. Harvested, state-grown Frasers are shipped to other states and countries.

Owen says more than half the state’s seasonal choose-and-cut farms are in western North Carolina, and are open to the public through late December.

Counties that are full-tilt for Fraser Christmas trees are in the far northwest – the mountain-border counties of Ashe, Allegheny, Avery, Watauga and Mitchell – or are south of Asheville (Jackson and Transylvania counties).

All these counties are linked by the peak-riding Blue Ridge Parkway. Interested but urbane travelers may want to opt for seeing live Frasers at the North Carolina Arboretum, in Asheville. It is open throughout the year, but through Dec. 31, the state facility offers a “Winter Lights” display featuring after-dark illumination of its various conifers.

But Owen and Greene say hitting the back roads of Fraser-growing counties is the best way to capture an IMAX “Polar Express”-type of majesty on a drive through steep, pastoral valleys.

Huge stands of Frasers look prime in whatever season you visit. Owen notes that large native Fraser stands are prime throughout the year in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and at Grandfather Mountain State Park, on a stunning peak off the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Linville.

Just be aware that your interest can rise as winter approaches: The other visual cue for the holiday season – blankets of snow – can snarl or close mountain roads, parkways and interstates in these parts.

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NASCAR Hall of Fame: With over 73% of motorsports employees working in the Charlotte area, it is no wonder that the city is also home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Since its opening on May 11, 2010, the hall usually sees 170,000 visitors, or more, per year. Led by the design of executive architect Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, this 390,000-square-foot building is home not only to the Hall of Fame but also NASCAR Digital Media, NASCAR’s licensing division and their video game licensee Dusenberry Martin Racing. The Hall of Fame itself is home to multiple artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater and the Hall of Honor. The building features a stainless-steel möbius that wraps around the exterior of the structure and specialized exhibition lighting. Flickr/Nick Ledford

Located in Asheville, Biltmore was the vision of George W. Vanderbilt. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt and opened in 1895, America’s largest home is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau, exhibiting the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. The Biltmore estate encompasses more than 8,000 acres including renowned gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture. Biltmore House, while still privately owned, has been open to the public since 1930, and welcomes more than 1.5 million people annually. Biltmore Estate Public Relations

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse: Per request of the U.S. Navy, Congress allotted $80,000 to the United States Lighthouse Board to construct a new warning signal at Cape Hatteras in 1868. The board was composed of two Navy officers, two Army engineers, two civilian scientists, and one officer from both the Navy and Army to serve as secretaries. Finished in under two years under the leadership of brevet Brigadier General J.H. Simpson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse cost $167,000. The new tower was the tallest brick lighthouse in the world. It stands 200 feet above the ground and the focal height of the light is 208 feet above water. Today the Coast Guard has ownership of the lighthouse and operates the navigational equipment and the National Park Service maintains the tower as a historic structure. Flickr/Cape Hatteras National Seashore

RDU Airport Terminal 2: Located in the largest research park in all of North America, the RDU Airport Terminal 2 expresses the cutting-edge influence of the three universities and the multiple bioscience companies in the Research Triangle. A combination of the area’s heritage, landscape and economy, Terminal 2’s flowing roofline reflects the Piedmont Hills, while the daylit interior offers the latest in common-use technology. Wood trusses create spaces that are column-free and offer productivity and flexibility from ticketing to security. Terminal 2 at RDU was honored as the world’s best in “Notable Regional Airport Development” by Passenger Terminal World. Fentress Architects served as the executive architects for the RDU Airport Terminal 2. Brady Lambert

The J.S. Dorton Arena: The Dorton Arena was built to be utilized by agriculture, commerce, industry and the general welfare of North Carolina. It has gained an international presence since completing construction in 1951. The suspended roof eradicates the need for structural steel supports and results in seats without any view obstructions. The exterior walls are composed of tinted, glare-reducing glass. The building celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2002 and was named a National Architectural and National Civil Engineering Monument. Matthew Nowicki and William Henley Dietrick served as the executive architects for the Dorton Arena. Flickr/Natural Math

North Carolina Museum of Art West Building: Located in a 164-acre park outside of Raleigh is the North Carolina Museum of Art. The gallery is comprised of one large room. The spaces are defined by free-standing walls and the artwork is lit with even daylight, which permeates from elliptical light-reflecting windows that are coordinated in the ceiling. The West Building is complemented by exterior courts with reflecting pools and gardens. The glass is regulated with layered curtains which softens the transition between the museum and exterior, while still allowing the building’s walls to reflect the landscape. Thomas Phifer and Partners served as the executive architect for the West Building. North Carolina Museum of Art

Duke Mansion: Constructed in 1915 and expanded by its owner, James Buchanan Duke, the Duke Mansion has served as a home and host to many different leaders of the 20th century. Duke’s most lasting benefactions include Duke University, Duke Energy and the Duke Endowment, which all got their start at the Duke Mansion. Registered with the National Register of Historic Places, the mansion is managed as a nonprofit with all of the proceeds being used to protect and preserve this community treasure. C.C. Hook served as the executive architect for the Duke Mansion. George Lainis

Bechtler Museum of Modern Art: The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art features a glass atrium that flows through the museum’s core and helps distribute natural light throughout the building. The wide atrium also allows for an open flow between spaces. The building’s fourth-floor gallery makes a dramatic presentation as it comes from the core of the building and is supported by a column rising from the plaza below. The Bechtler Museum also has a vaulted skylight system and terracotta exterior. It boasts an elegantly simple palette of materials including steel, glass, terracotta, black granite, polished concrete and wood. Mario Botta served as the executive architect for the Bechtler Museum. Bechtler Museum of Modern Art

Thalian Hall: Since construction was completed in 1858, Thalian Hall has had the unique responsibility of serving as both the area’s cultural and political center. Thalian Hall is the only surviving theater created by John Montague Trimble, who was one of America’s foremost 19th-century architects for theaters. Listed on the National Register for Historic Places, it was built at a time when Wilmington was the largest city in North Carolina. The brand-new building housed the library, town government and also an Opera House that seated 1,000 people, which at the time was 10% of the population of the city of Wilmington. John Montague Trimble served as the executive architect for Thalian Hall. Flickr/Mark Lee

American Tobacco Campus: The Historic American Tobacco Campus includes 10 buildings made up of over 1 million square feet of recycled industrial architecture forming a historical timeline stretching from 1874 to 1954. Begun in 2001, the revitalization project called for creating a new life for a complex near Durham’s struggling city center that sat empty and unused after the factory’s closing in the 1980s. Eddie Belk and his team worked closely with the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office and the National Parks Service to guide the project through the review processes necessary to claim state and federal Historic Tax Credits. As a result, American Tobacco became the largest Historic Tax Credit Industrial Renovation in the southern United States and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark. Surrounded by history and tradition, the American Tobacco Historic District has become one of Durham’s most active urban spaces and has been repeatedly recognized for the design and overall success of the project. American Tobacco Campus

Duke Chapel: Duke Chapel is an illustration of neo-Gothic architecture in the English style. Characterized by large stone piers, ribbed vaults, pointed arches and flying buttresses, Gothic architecture features allow the creation of ample open spaces, uninterrupted by columns for support. The chapel is composed of volcanic stone from a quarry in Hillsborough, N.C. This quarry was purchased by Duke University for the creation of their West Campus, and the material is known as Hillsborough bluestone. The distinctive stone ranges in color from a rust orange to a slate gray in 17 different shades. The vaults and walls of the transepts are made of Guastavino tile, which is also used in buildings such as New York’s Grand Central Station, Grant’s Tomb and the Queensboro Bridge. Julian Abele (Horace Trumbauer) served as the executive architect for Duke Chapel. Wikimedia Commons

Grove Arcade: The Grove Arcade is a historic commercial building located in Asheville. Built through the years of 1926-1929 by E.W. Grove, this Late Gothic/Tudor Revival-style building consists of two stacked blocks. The lower of the two blocks is a rectangular slab with rounded corners; the second block caps it, creating a two-tier set-back. The frame of the building is made from steel, and that combined with the reinforced concrete was created to serve as a base for an unbuilt skyscraper. The arcade carries a roof deck with a bronze semi-elliptical balcony, ziggurat-like arrangement of huge ramps to the roof deck, and terra cotta pilasters. The building conquers a full city block and has housed one of America’s first indoor shopping malls. The Grove Arcade was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Flickr/David B. Gleason

Basilica of St. Lawrence: The style of the Basilica of St. Lawrence is Spanish Renaissance, and was chosen by the executive architect Rafael Guastavino. The central figure on the main wall is St. Lawrence, holding a palm frond in one hand and a gridiron in the other. In art, a person holding a palm has been martyred for the Christian faith. The lunette over the entrance is made of polychrome terracotta and epitomizes Christ giving the keys of the kingdom to Peter, and making him the head of the Church. Below the lunette is a window made from stained glass that displays the Coat of Arms of the Basilica of St. Lawrence. What makes this building a marvel is that there are no beams of wood or steel in the entire structure. The floors, walls, pillars and ceilings are made of tile or other similar materials. The North Carolina granite stone foundation gives testimony to the architect’s desire to build a structure that would endure for years. Flickr/Jennifer Boyer

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture: The Gantt Center honors contributions of African Americans to the nation’s culture and provides an important space in Charlotte for dance, visual and film arts, music, arts education, literature, theater and community outreach. The center was inspired by the historic Myers School that resided in the Brooklyn neighborhood, a once-flourishing African American community that was gradually uprooted by the growing central business district. Inspired by African textile designs and quilting patterns, the exterior of the center features metal panels that are woven together by steel channels with windows to provide daylight for areas of the building. Perkins + Will served as the executive architect for the Gantt Center. Flickr/Mark Clifton

James B. Hunt Jr. Library: The Hunt Library features a unique modern exterior and a cutting-edge technology-filled interior. Time magazine has called Hunt Library “the library of the future.” The library has reduced the space needed for stacks by introducing a bookBot that delivers the books to you. With the use of a virtual browse system, users can see a virtual shelf with items related to the search subject. Books can be checked out and retrieved by the bookBot and are ready for the user to pick up in just a few minutes. Hunt Library has received more than 20 awards, with prizes including the Stanford Prize for Innovation in Research Libraries, and three national awards for library interiors, architectural design and planning, and education facility design. Snøhetta and Clark Nexsen served as the executive architects for the Hunt Library. Jeff Goldberg, Esto

Grove Park Inn: In 1911 Edwin Wiley Grove commissioned his friend Fred Seely to help build the Grove Park Inn. Seely promised Grove that the hotel would be completed less than a year from groundbreaking. Four-hundred men worked six days a week in 10-hour shifts. The workers only had access to wagons, mules and ropes to carry granite boulders from Sunset Mountain, with some of the boulders weighing as much as 10,000 pounds. Seely was able to keep his promise when the hotel was finished just three days before the one-year mark. The Inn opened on July 12, 1913, with a keynote address given by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan. Fred Seely served as the executive architect for the Grove Park Inn. Flickr/Selena N.B.H

North Carolina State Capitol Building: What was once the seat of the legislature of the state of North Carolina is now the North Carolina State Capitol Building. Located in Raleigh on Union Square, the Greek Revival building had its construction started on July 4, 1833, when the cornerstone was laid with Masonic honors. Designed primarily by the architectural firm of Alexander Jackson Davis and Ithiel Town, the capitol housed the entire state government until 1888 and the North Carolina General Assembly met in the capitol building until 1961. Today, the governor and the governor's immediate staff occupy the building. The capitol was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Flickr/Jim Bowen

Romare Bearden Park: The completed design for Romare Bearden Park was created by Neighboring Concepts in association with LandDesign. Named after the Charlotte native Romare Bearden, the African-American artist is best known for his collages, many of which are inspired by Bearden’s life in Harlem and the West Indies. The Romare Bearden Park is the biggest urban park in the Uptown Charlotte area. Neighboring Concepts designed the kiosk, restroom facilities and arbor trellis. These features help the visitor re-imagine a stroll in a Parisian garden; this helps honor Bearden’s education at the Sorbonne. The park has a lively mood and a raw juxtaposition of Bearden’s Jazz Age visual compositions. Leo Caplanides

R.J. Reynolds Building: The R.J. Reynolds Building was designed with the Empire State Building in mind, with the purpose of using the first floor as offices and retail outlets. Shreve & Lamb were brought in as the executive architects, and were asked for “an effect of conservatism along with attractiveness, but to avoid flashiness.” The architects may not have followed those requests because in 1997 the Winston-Salem Journal said that the “city residents could be forgiven for wondering whether the architects follow the directive” because “Gray-brown marble from Missouri, black marble from Belgium and buff-colored marble from France covered the walls and floor. The ceiling was festooned with gold leaves, and the grillwork, elevator doors, and door frames were bright, gleaming brass.” The building now houses apartments and businesses. Flickr/Chuck Allen

AIA North Carolina Center for Architecture and Design: The mission of the new AIA North Carolina Center for Architecture & Design is to bridge architecture and the public. The facilities exhibit design excellence and represent the talent and aspirations of AIA North Carolina members. The building will provide headquarters for the AIA NC Chapter and will act as a contact point for government participation; a catalyst for public outreach; and a design education program to radiate throughout the state, provide public exposure for architects and their work, and serve as a source of pride for AIA NC members and the entire state. Frank Harmon served as the executive architect for the AIA North Carolina Center for Architecture and Design. Tim Hursley

Reynolda House: Katherine Smith Reynolds played a dominant role in planning for the Reynolda House. This self-sufficient estate just outside of the city limits of Winston features 60 rooms, formal and informal gardens, and a lake. In 1965 the Reynolda House was established as a non-profit institution dedicated to education and the arts. The collection began with nine paintings, featuring work by Gilbert Stuart, William Harnett, Frederic Church, William Merritt Chase and Albert Bierstadt. The collection has continued to grow yearly and now possesses drawings, sculptures, paintings and photographs dating from 1755 to present. Charles Barton Keen served as the executive architect for the Reynolda House. Reynolda House

Bank of America Corporate Headquarters: Located at 100 N. Tryon Street, the Bank of America Corporate Center celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Opened in 1992, it is the tallest building in the state at 871 feet and 60 stories high, and the tallest between Atlanta and Philadelphia. On a clear day, the tower is visible from 35 miles away. The building was designed by Argentine architect César Pelli and HKS Architects. The lobby has one of the largest secular frescoes in the world, painted by Ben Long. The work took more than a year to complete and was painted on-site using the traditional technique of fresco painting. The Corporate Center is connected to the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center and Founders Hall, a large, glass-enclosed public space surrounded by shops and restaurants. Cesar Pelli served as the executive architect for the Bank of America Corporate Headquarters. Bank of America

Bellamy MansionIn 1859 Dr. Bellamy wished for his home to be constructed with classic style, and in an old dependable fashion, but he was very interested in modern utilities and inventions that would keep his family comfortable. The mansion was furnished with running hot and cold water, which was provided by a large cistern and pump. The new home even had gas chandeliers to light the large rooms. The tin roof has channels that allow for quick drainage and insulation. Due to Wilmington’s high temperatures and humidity in the summer months, the large door-sized windows on the first floor open all the way, making them disappear into the wall. This allowed for a breeze to circulate through the home and walkways of the wraparound porch. James F. Post served as the executive architect for the Bellamy Mansion. Flickr/Jameslwoodward

Tryon Palace: Tryon Palace was the location of the first sessions of the general assembly for the State of North Carolina that took place after the Revolution and welcomed state governors until 1794. A fire destroyed the original palace building in 1798. A considerable 30-year campaign to rebuild the palace and recreate the grounds was started by the citizens of New Bern, craftsmen, state leaders, and charitable, dedicated people such as Mrs. James Edwin Latham. These combined efforts helped to create the exultant return of the Tryon Palace in 1959. Today, the palace continues on as a reminder of history, community and rebirth. John Hawks served as the executive architect of Tryon Palace. Tryon Palace

North Carolina State Legislative Building: Completed in 1963, the North Carolina State Legislative Building features many unique architectural characteristics. Features include a 22-foot-wide red-carpeted stair that takes guests from the entrance to the third floor where the galleries for the House and Senate are located. There are rooftop gardens and garden courts placed in the four corners of the building. The brass doors that lead into the House and Senate chambers weigh 1,700 pounds per pair. There is a 12-foot-diameter brass chandelier that hangs over the rotunda and weighs 750 pounds. There are brass chandeliers in the chambers and at the foot of the main stair that are eight feet in diameter and weigh 625 pounds each. The entrance of the Legislative Building features a 28-foot-diameter terrazzo mosaic of the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina. Edward Durell Stone served as the executive architect for the North Carolina State Legislative Building. Flickr/Jayron32